More than 250 hospitals were targeted by ransomware attacks in 2023, the company of Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Illinois, notes – representing a 128 % increase compared to the previous year. As has been shown over and over, these attacks, beyond being costly, are destructive and painful, sometimes for weeks: delaying essential medical procedures, interrupting the flow of patient care, leading to delayed health appointments and stressed staff. Kelly has introduced a new invoice that she believes will increase cybersecurity readiness for smaller hospitals that are most susceptible to malware and another cyberattacks. WHY IT MATTERSHer newly-filed legislation, the Healthcare Cybersecurity Improvement Act ( H. R. 10455 ), contains four key provisions: It places in statute the Healthcare Cybersecurity Coordination Center ( HC3 ) so the office can continue its work offering information and resources for providers
It creates an initial grant program, funded to the tune of$ 100 million, to boost the security efforts of small and medium-sized facilities
HHS must establish fundamental security standards before that are required to be included as a prerequisite for participating in hospitals receiving Medicare money.
It provides greater care systems with access to computer resources without worry of liability because it provides greater liability protection.
Study the bill’s entire words around. The truth is that the hospitals ‘ cybersecurity systems are not up to par, according to Kelly in a declaration.” When people put their health in the arms of doctors and healthcare providers, they are also entrusting their most personal information to these techniques. THE LARGER TRENDThe new act is supported by the voluntary cybersecurity firm, AI Am the Army, which is committed to boosting the cybersecurity of related clinical devices, IT infrastructure and additional mission-critical technologies. Fraudsters” show no signs that they will allow up”, I Am The Army director Joshua Corman, in a statement. These attacks lead to poor individual care, worsening the outcomes, and actually causing life-long losses. Through I Am The Cavalry, Congresswoman Robin Kelly has consistently collaborated with ethical hackers to improve the resilience of small, medium, and remote healthcare facilities, ensuring that any American can have quick access to emergency maintenance. Kelly’s act is not the only new Legislative filing that focuses on lending a helping hand to health systems trying to protect against cyberattacks. The Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2024, which would be introduced in the Senate, would support organizations that promote better coordination between HHS and CISA. Additionally, a public-private partnership – The White House, Microsoft, Google, American Hospital Association, National Rural Health Association – collaborated earlier this year for an initiative to offer grants, free endpoint security advice and other resources for critical access and emergency hospitals. ON THE RECORD”It has become woefully obvious that hospitals need better standards and investments to help ward off cyberattacks, especially smaller hospitals that need larger capacity and expertise”, said Rep. Kelly in a statement. The writer at Healthcare IT NewsEmail is Mike Miliard, the executive editor of the newspaper.” Americans who go into surgery or are rushing to the hospital for an emergency should not have to worry about whether their doctor’s medical equipment has been hacked or their care has to be delayed.” miliard@himssmedia.com Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.